The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today's Nontraditional Workplace

Bredin, who writes the syndicated newspaper column ""Working at Home,"" offers a step-by-step guide to setting up a home office or a virtual office. With an estimated 40% of all U.S. employees expected to work in nontraditional offices by the year 2000, even the cubicle-bound might want to know about these new arrangements and how to make them work best for employers as well as workers. A major reason for resisting these novel work settings is the difficulty of effective interaction between employees and their colleagues or supervisors. Bredin starts by describing the professions and industries most suited to virtual or home offices and the employee personality and temperament that will thrive in the situation. Then she offers first-rate nitty-gritty advice on setting up an office, from choosing computer systems, legal and tax requirements for home business, time management and more. Especially helpful are her strategies for coping with real life-handling rejection, managing child-care crises, keeping up with office gossip and how to avoid nonstop eating. This is an excellent guide for freelancers, small business owners and employees of large corporations who want a flexible work situation. (May)